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Friday, November 21, 2003
Thanks to everyone who wrote recently about writing for my site and RPW. I talked to Julie, she wants everyone who's interested in RPW to drop her a line. I sent you all her address, pretty sure. If not, I will...just let me know.
Everyone else, get in touch with me next week sometime too...thanks Wednesday, November 19, 2003
TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY 2003 SEASON REVIEW
by Brian Spaid November 19, 2003 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FRANKLIN, PA …. Tri-City Speedway will honor its 2003 track champions on January 10th after a fantastic season of racing at the half-mile Venango County oval as Rod George (NorthPointe Automotive Super Sprints), Del Rougeux Jr. (Schwab’s Ford DIRT Modifieds), Brent Rhebergen (RE/MAX 1st Oil Country E Mods), Darrell Bossard (E.F. Rogers Plumbing & Heating Pro Stocks) and Jeff Manners (Victory Lane Graphics Thundercars) captured title honors. In the Super Sprint division, Rod George of Kittanning, Pa., and his main nemesis Ed Lynch Jr. continued their 2002 dominance at Tri-City as they won nearly every feature event in 2003. In fact, the win streak lasted for 25 races from May 19, 2002, until August 10, 2003. One week later, on August 17th, hometown hero Jason Jacoby won his first career feature at Tri-City and became the only driver all season to stop the George and Lynch juggernaut. For George, it was a record season as he captured nine feature wins breaking a mark set by Ed Lynch Sr. (1977) and Brad Doty (1980). Lynch won six features and led the points chase until when he skipped a Sunday night of racing in August after competing in the Knoxville Nationals. George won that night, and used the victory as a springboard to his second consecutive track title in his Rodeway Inn/Kittanning Dairy Queen/United Expressline Gambler No. 4. With nine wins, 15 top five finishes in 16 feature races, and six heat race wins, George topped Lynch by 90 points (1364-1274). Jacoby, Brent Matus and Gary Rankin rounded out the top five drivers in the final point standings. Del Rougeux Jr. of Frenchville, Pa., captured the DIRT Modified track championship for the first time in his career. The quiet, unassuming Rougeux emerged as a contender at Tri-City when he won the 2001 Original Coors Hard Charger Award. Gradually, he became a major force in his Vinyl Graphics Bicknell No. 20D. In 2003, Rougeux won three features and captured 10 top five finishes in 16 feature events. Combined with his six heat race wins, Rougeux won the championship by 26 points over Jim Rasey, Joe Crawford, Andy Priest and Skip Moore. Kevin Bolland was the top winner with six feature victories, including three in a tow in June. Season-long engine woes hampered Bolland’s effort to win a third title, however. Other feature winners in a competitive season included Crawford (2), Priest (2), Moore (1), Rex King (1), and Ron Smoker (1), who won the BRP Modified Tour/Kodiak Memorial Race on September 5th. Brent Rhebergen of Clymer, N.Y., continued his winning ways in the E Mods as he captured 10 feature wins and his second consecutive track title. Since 2000, Rhebergen has earned 33 feature wins in Bruce Steadman’s Sharp Tool & Die Pierce No. 69. Early in the season, however, it appeared that Rhebergen’s unbelievable luck finally soured. For two consecutive weeks in May, he was involved in accidents and Jim Frontz won his first two features. Those wins allowed Frontz to take command of the point chase. For the rest of the season, Rhebergen ate into Frontz’s lead before he finally took it away in August. With 12 top five finishes in 14 feature races and nine heat race wins, Rhebergen secured the E Mod title over Frontz, Jeff Taylor, Kari Gasser and Mike Potosky. Other than Rhebergen and Frontz, Dave Hess Jr. (1) and Taylor (1) also scored feature wins. Darrell Bossard of Centerville, Pa., took immediate command of the Pro Stock division with three consecutive feature wins at the start of the season, and he led the point chase the entire way for his first career title at Tri-City. Overall, Bossard, who was the Raceway 7 track champion as well, won five features and 12 heat races, and he finished in the top five 14 times in 17 feature events aboard his Bossard Crawford GM Store/Maloney Tool & Mold Chevrolet No. 22B. Defending track champion Bobby Whitling finished second in the point standings with three victories, including his third career win in the CSOnline Applefest 100 on September 28th. Whitling also captured the Anderson Bldg. Detroit Iron Pro Stock Series title, which was a special three-race series of events held during the season in conjunction with the overall season title chase. Gary Norman, Bruce Smith and Doug Iorio Sr. rounded out the top five point finishers. In addition to Bossard and Whitling, other feature winners included Norman (4), Smith (3), Iorio (1) and Rod Laskey (1). The inaugural season of the Thundercars rounded out the weekly action at Tri-City, and former Pro Stock racer Jeff Manners of Cherrytree, Pa., captured the track title. Piloting his Jerry's Auto Service Oldsmobile No. 16 to three wins, Manners was one of the first drivers to compete in the class. As a result, when rookie contender Robby Switzer joined the field in the third week of the season, Manners was able to retain his championship advantage despite Switzer’s six feature wins. Dave Phillips, Curt Bish Jr., Switzer and Joe Blake were behind Manners in the final point tally. Switzer and Manners were the top feature winners. Other winners included Phillips (2), Robby Torrens (2), Ian Tomei (1), Bish (1) and Don Blake Jr. (1). In a title chase dominated by the Pro Stock racers, Doug Iorio Sr. of New Castle, Pa., won the 2003 Coors Light Hard Charger Award. With points accumulated from all divisions based on the number of positions a driver advances in the feature finish from his official starting spot, Iorio topped his fellow Pro Stock competitors with 67 points. Ben Blake, Bobby Whitling, Gary Norman and Doug Calvert finished behind the 1996 Pro Stock track champion in the points. All champions will be honored at the Tri-City Speedway Banquet on Saturday January 10th at the Rocky Grove Fire Hall in Rocky Grove, Pa., located about seven miles from the track just outside Franklin. For banquet information and tickets, please contact the track office at (814) 473-4038. TRI-CITY SPEEDWAY FINAL POINT STANDINGS 2003 SUPER SPRINTS: 1. Rod George (Kittanning), 1364; 2. Ed Lynch Jr. (Apollo), 1274; 3. Jason Jacoby (Franklin), 1260; 4. Brent Matus (Wampum), 1078; 5. Gary Rankin (Renfrew), 983; 6. Sheila Rankin (Renfrew), 894; 7. Andy McKisson (Strattanville), 882; 8. Jarod Larson (Rock Creek, OH), 840; 9. Butch Beasley (Rootstown, OH), 822; 10. Scott Priester (Rimersburg), 702. DIRT MODIFIEDS: 1. Del Rougeux Jr. (Frenchville), 1200; 2. Jim Rasey (Southington, OH), 1174; 3. Joe Crawford (Polk), 1173; 4. Andy Priest (New Castle), 1139; 5. Skip Moore (Jackson Center), 1117; 6. Dave Schrader (Endeavor), 1035; 7. Chanda Reitz (Dempseytown), 1015; 8. Carl Murdick (Butler), 916; 9. Kevin Bolland (New Brighton), 894; 10. Nick Ritchey (Oil City), 728. E MODS: 1. Brent Rhebergen (Clymer, NY), 1294; 2. Jim Frontz (Cambridge Springs), 1258; 3. Jeff Taylor (Saltsburg), 1228; 4. Kari Gasser (Girard, OH), 1154; 5. Mike Potosky (Guys Mills), 1105; 6. Shawn Domhoff (Harmony), 1021; 7. Butch Lambert (Mars), 978; 8. Jamie Shetler (Cochranton), 918; 10. Mike Samuelson (Conewango Valley, NY), 910; 10. Bruce Powell (Utica), 836. PRO STOCKS: 1. Darrell Bossard (Centerville), 1418; 2. Bobby Whitling (Seneca), 1376; 3. Gary Norman (New Castle), 1369; 4. Bruce Smith (Franklin), 1279; 5. Doug Iorio Sr. (New Castle), 1213; 6. Dave Ferringer (Cochranton), 1136; 7. Jason Johns (Oil City), 1120; 8. Scott Myers (Reno), 1019; 9. Doug Calvert (Cochranton), 977; 10. Rod Laskey (Seneca), 938. THUNDERCARS: 1. Jeff Manners (Cherrytree), 1178; 2. Dave Phillips (Franklin), 1122; 3. Curt Bish Jr. (Oil City), 1112; 4. Robby Switzer (Kennerdell), 1072; 5. Joe Blake (Oil City), 918; 6. Kevin Cooper (Cooperstown), 898; 7. Wearne Cook (Cooperstown), 842; 8. Andy Miller (Fairborn, OH), 572; 9. Branden King (Emlenton), 496; 10. Dave Gottschalk (Cranberry), 372. HARD CHARGER: 1. Doug Iorio Sr. (New Castle)(PS), 67; 2. Ben Blake (Titusville)(PS), 56; 3. Bobby Whitling (Seneca)(PS), 55; 4. Gary Norman (New Castle)(PS), 53; 5. Doug Calvert (Cochranton)(PS), 51. Key: Pro Stocks (PS). DETROIT IRON PRO STOCK SERIES: 1. Bobby Whitling (Seneca), 320; 2. Bruce Smith (Franklin), 302; 3. Gary Norman (New Castle), 274; 4. Doug Iorio Sr. (New Castle), 270; 5. Darrell Bossard (Centerville), 268.
CLINTON COUNTY HONORS CHAMPIONS AT ANNAUL AWARDS BANQUET
HOWARD, PA. – Clinton County Speedway officials concluded the 2003 season with the annual awards banquet Saturday evening at the Yearick Center at the Howard Fire Company. Nearly 200 guests attended representing the Sprint car, Super Stock, 4-Cylinder Pro Stock, Daredevils and 4-Cylinder Enduro Division. Daryl Stimeling of Lewiston won the 2003 Sprint Car Championship driving the Golden Flavor Sesame Sticks number 98. It was the first championship for car owners Tom and Fran Chiappelli and the second for Stimeling as he also won the title in 1996. During the 2003 season, Stimeling earned four visits to victory lane and led the division with a total of nine heat race wins. Jimmy Seger, who finished seventh in the overall points standing, received the Rookie of the Year honors. Seger, 16, of Morrisdale recorded his first career Sprint Car win in August. Randy Mausteller of Bloomsburg was awarded the Sportsman of Year award in the Sprint Car ranks. Jake Shady of Beech Creek won the Super Stock track championship. Driving for the Ergott Racing team, Shady posted five feature wins and 15 top five finishes. Cliff Berry of Trout Run earned the Rookie of the year honors while the late Chuck Colegrove of Trout Run was honored with the Sportsmanship Award. Donnie Mellinger of Lewistown earned his first Four Cylinder Pro Stock title. Mellinger, who plans to retire after this season secured 5 feature wins and 15 top five finishes. Mellinger also was awarded the division’s Sportsman of the Year. Bob Tressler of Lock Haven, who finished in the runner-up position in the points chase received the Rookie of the Year award. For the third consecutive year, Dave Riddell of Montgomery was crowned the Daredevil Champion. During the 2003 season, Riddell finished outside of the top five on only 2 occasions. He also won five feature events. Jim Berry of Trout Run won the Rookie of the Year award and Rich Fye of Woolrich won the Sportsmanship award. In the first full season of 4-Cylinder Enduro competition, Ray Chambers of Moshannon became the speedway’s first Enduro Champion. Chambers won four feature events, 12 top five finishes and 19 top ten finishes. Track officials announced that the tentative 2004 season opener will be Friday, April 29th. The complete 2004 schedule is planned to be released at the start of the New Year. Some changes have been made to the weekly divisions that will be competing at the speedway. The Sprint cars will remain as the headline division. A new division, the 358 late models, will evolve as result of a merger of the former Late Model and Super Stock divisions. The current daredevil division has received some modifications to the division rules and will now be in line with the Pro Stock division that competes weekly at Selinsgrove and Port Royal Speedways. The 4-Cylinder Enduro Division will remain with no changes, completing the 4-Division program of Sprints, 358 Late Models, Pro Stocks and 4-Cylinder Enduro Cars. For the latest news and information or rules for any of the four divisions, visit the speedway’s official website at clintoncountyspeedway.com.
“Behind the Checkered Curtain”
By Mike Leone Pin your ears back and hold on. Don’t push the panic button now. Here we go again… Is Greg Hodnett simply the nation’s best local racer? Hodnett backed up last year’s two-day sweep of the World of Outlaws at Ted Johnson’s favorite track- Lowe’s Motor Speedway by doing another two-day drubbing of Ted’s boys at Delta, Mississippi on October 17 & 18. Ironically, Delta Bowl replaced Lowe’s on this year’s third weekend of October. Hodnett finished off his year a week later by adding another 10-grand to Apple Motorsport’s racing fund by winning the Octoberfest at Hagerstown, Maryland for his 25th score of 2003. Only at Hagerstown’s Octoberfest would you see the flagman sitting on a stool during the features. I just can’t picture Knoxville’s Doug Clark sitting for the Nationals. Does anyone else find it disturbing to see an ad for traction control in the December issue of Flat Out? Why is a magazine that’s promoting sprint car racing at the same time taking money from a company, that I won’t even name, that for all intents and purposes trying to ruin racing? Somehow I can’t believe you’d see that ad if Kevin Eckert was still the editor. Unfortunately though I think traction control is here to stay in all forms of auto racing due to its near impossibility of detection. Wonder if Jan Opperman ever thought about traction control? Isn’t technology wonderful. Remember ASCOF (American Sprint Car Organization and Fans)? This group folded before it even took off a few years ago. Trying to lease tracks to put on your own sanctioned high-paying events just doesn’t work out financially. This was also the same time when the ill-fated WoO Gumout Series was starting out. Can you believe it will be 10 years this spring since Howard Michaels revived Mercer Raceway Park from the dead? The track has come a long way since then and so has Mike Lutz. Lutz, who now calls Mercer home, celebrated his biggest career accomplishment November 15 accepting the championship accolades for ESS. Despite his success, Lutz will once again be ride-hunting for the upcoming season. Since ’94, Lutz has drove more cars at Mercer at 12 than the 10 years the track has run. The list includes in numeric order the Norton Southard 00, Jim Siciliano Y5, Powell Family 27, P.J. Kerr 32, P.J. Kerr’s second entry 32K, Todd Bauer 45, Fred Scott 45, Mike VanDusen 58, Dick Bulling 68, Andy Lutz, Sr. 86, Chuck Steinbrick 92, and the John Toth 96. During that time, Lutz also drove and won in one of the most famous ride’s America, the Bob Weikert #29, though not at Mercer. What do Mike Shearer, Chad Hill, Gary McCollum, and Jason Jacoby all have in common? All four drivers scored “feel-good” first wins of some sort during the 2003 western Pa. sprint car season. This is what all the hard work, all the blood, sweat, and tears is about- it’s every racer’s dream. Shearer’s first career win came June 20 at Lernerville then backed up that win by adding a second less than 24 hours later at Mercer. Hill’s emotional first career sprint car checkered flag came a week later at Lernerville and was dedicated to his ill father, who was fighting cancer and wanted his son to win one for him. McCollum’s win on July 26 was his first ever in a 410, first career at Mercer, and first of any kind in eight years for the 39-year racing veteran. Jacoby won his first career Tri-City score in front of his hometown fans on August 17 and more importantly became the first driver in over two years to beat Ed Lynch, Jr. and Rod George in a regular race event. Is the latest craze sweeping the east coast to put dirt on existing asphalt tracks? That’s what’s going on at Evans Mill (NY) and Clearfield (PA). If the All Stars’ have anything to say about it that same asphalt-to-dirt transformation would give them a February show at Desoto (FL). Maybe PPMS and Motordrome promoter, Red Miley, will covert his Motordrome back to dirt again. It could be like Volusia (FL), where you need the National Speedway Directory to keep track of their two tracks. Speaking of Clearfield, can the Clearfield/DuBois area support more dirt tracks? With Central Pa. Speedway going to dirt on Friday nights and the continuing rumors of the new Thunder Mountain Speedway opening up in nearby Knoxdale added to the already existing Saturday night Gambler’s Raceway Park in Clearfield and Hummingbird Speedway in nearby Falls Creek. For years, the former Hidden Valley Speedway (Gambler’s) struggled being the area’s only dirt track. Are there that many cars and fans to go around? One has to wonder who’s going to suffer here. Hard to believe the same Mansfield, Ohio (a track that went the other way, dirt-to-asphalt) that a few years ago hosted year-round holiday races that played to sparse crowds and car counts in a not so pleasant environment will now host a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series event at a place that will seat 15,000 in twentyofour. I’ll never forget their handwritten menu board at their concession, which included “Bowels of Chili” and “Crackers & Chews,” sitting in front of a huge jar of pickles. Sitting in the shadow of downtown Indy is the Indianapolis Speedrome. The 1/5-mile flat asphalt oval is rightfully named as bleachers surrounding the entire speedway, which was established way back in 1941. With a stadium-like atmosphere that includes lined parking spaces, folding chairs for much of its seating, $2 hot dogs, $3.50 cheeseburgers, $2 water, and $3 beer, you know you’re in the city. A pass-out gate and signs that include bans on coolers and video cameras only confirms the fact. This is definitely not a track you’d see in Pennsylvania. On November 8, Speedrome accounted for my 68th track I’ve seen races and 10th different state. Speedrome hosts action three nights a week and has replaced Thursday night NAMARS with Wednesday night USAC in 2004. The trio of divisions will include USAC Regional Midgets, Ford Focus Midgets, and Kenyon Midgets. According to Speedrome’s website, “If you pass the Visteon factory, the Navistar factory or spot a vegetable and fruit stand, you're near the Speedrome.” Just outside “The City of Brotherly Love” across the bridge and border lies Bridgeport (NJ) Speedway. The only thing that resembles Philadelphia is the size! We’re talking every bit of 5/8ths. It makes the inside ¼-mile track look like a go-kart track. Hard to believe a track that can draw from 2 million people from in its backyard of Philadelphia, Camden (NJ), and Wilmington (DE) struggles like it does. In all likelihood, the majority do not know it even exists on its sandy outskirts. Promotional guru, Bob Miller, put on “The Great Turkey Chase”/Big Show III as a tribute to the late promoter George Wingate on November 15. What a turnout of cars and fans for mid-November! 77 big-block modifieds and 58 sportsman modifieds along with a great crowd. Miller is heavily involved with URC and also promotes the “Thunder of the Hill Series” as well as other eastern events. Surprisingly, the track held up quite well for daytime racing as two and three-wide racing was featured all day long. As hard as it’s to believe, Brett Hearn was beat from the pole position. Doug Hoffman raced from the eight starting spot to make a nice inside move of Hearn off turn four on lap 20 to beat the DIRT star in the 50-lap $4,000 to-win event. Passing really was the story of the day. Frank Cozze came all the way from 18th to place third. Pat Ward came clear out of the C main, the back of the B, and then raced from 28th in the feature to an eighth place finish. Ward’s new teammate, Billy Decker, dropped out of the feature early on. It will be tough to get used to Decker not in the Randy Ross 91. The star-laden field also included Bob McCreadie (Mills 30), Danny Johnson, Billy Pauch, Jimmy Horton, Kenny and Keith Brightbill, Tim Fuller, Ricky Elliott, Jimmy Chester, Duane Howard, Keith Hoffman, Kevin Hirthler, and many other winners made this a tough task just to qualify for the feature. Gotta love the name of sportsman racer, Dominick Buffalino, Jr. Philly cheese steak, fried turkey legs, and barbecue ribs were just sampling of their menu. Of course I went with the Philly! Bridgeport goes down as race 85 for the season, career track #69, and state #11. Always remember, the race season doesn’t have to end if you don’t want it to. You think about that and until next time, fan mail can reach this author at mleone@infonline.net. Tuesday, November 18, 2003
BLACK ROCK TO SEE MAJOR CHANGES IN 2004
DUNDEE, NY- Lin Hough spoke with a steady voice, confident and at peace with the final decision: it is with a great deal of regret after many years of being affiliated with the prestigious Modified class and its drivers that the 2003 season will end an era for regular Friday night Modified racing at Black Rock Speedway. "We had to do something," Hough said. "We have made a major financial investment in this race track and we feel it deserves to be taken to the next level." Hough and Sam Kelly teamed up to promote the track in 1995. Kelly has rejoined the effort for the upcoming 2004 racing season to help juggle the many forthcoming changes. For the first time in over 20 years, Black Rock Speedway will remain quiet on Friday nights, moving their racing program to Saturday. It will allow the addition of 360 sprint car racing as the weekly headliner. The 2004 Black Rock Speedway Schedule, planned to open in April, will showcase the 360 Winged Sprint Cars on a regular basis. It is the only track in New York to feature the 360 sprinters weekly. The core race card will carry over from last year, maintaining the lineup of popular Elmira/Ithaca Auto Paint PPG Super Stocks, the Regional Pro Trucks, the 4 Cylinder Division and the Black Rock Bandit youth division. "This is a dream that Sam Kelly has had for over 10 years," Hough said. "He's been talking about it since we started together in 1995." With all the major improvements over the last nine years at Black Rock Speedway, it has become one of New York's finest race facilities. Management feels that the one limiting factor of the speedway's fan attendance on Friday night is geographic location. Nestled in the beautiful Wine Country of the Finger Lakes, Friday drive time is limited to 50 miles causing hardships for fans and race teams to make the 7:00 PM race time. "My biggest thing is you can drive 50 miles on Friday night in any direction and see the same show," Kelly said. "We need to put some life back into racing. We are in the entertainment business, basically and we need to have something that is more fresh." "We really don't have a choice to move," Hough added. "With the location of the track, there isn't a large enough draw in the 50 mile radius. We've struggled for nine years to put out a quality show and to get top ratings to justify the financial risks that it takes to run on Fridays." By changing to a Saturday night program, the speedway expects to benefit all by expanding travel time. Expanded travel time should show a significant increase in the fan base that will, in turn, increase sponsor awareness for the race teams as well as the track sponsors. The big winner will be the race fan as Saturday night is "race night." Black Rock Speedway first opened as Dundee Raceway in 1957. It first opened as a Saturday night track. It joined the Cohocton Valley Racing Association and racing the program was moved to Friday. There are other local tracks that run on Saturday night, but Kelly and Hough do not see this as a major issue. "You could chase your tail for days and days on that decision," Kelly said. Sam Kelly has come back to the Speedway as he is preparing to step out of the Milk Hauling business. Kelly was key in getting the speedway on its feet with Hough in 1995 and has hoped to see regular sprint racing at the track since. "Black Rock is the ideal sprint car track," Kelly said. "They pretty much flat-foot it around here if they are hooked up." Kelly explained the track is ideal, combining the fine, tacky surface with the wide groove and tapered banking. "We think we can be an advantage to the clubs," Kelly said "With the economy the way it is, a lot of these teams can't take the time off or travel and a lot of cars are parked in garages or hedgerows. "We are going to provide a place for teams to race. We want them outracing. If they have a place to race when the economy gets straightened up or find sponsorship money to go tour, they will be in business and they will be able to go with ESS or The Patriots." Hough will step back and leave much of the day-to-day operations to Kelly. "Sam Kelly is retiring from milk hauling and will have the full time to dedicate toward the track," Hough said. "He is a hardworking, intelligent man and an exceptionally good businessman. He can squeeze two pennies together and have a dollar fall out." The track drew well on the nights the Empire Super Sprints visited the speedway, but had a rough time filling the stands the other 18 events. "The bottom line is that if that track is going to survive, we have to put fannies in the stands," Hough said. "The consensus is that racing has become stagnant around NY. We needed to do something." After much consideration to the overall impact of racing in the Southern Tier, its competitors, fans and sponsors, the management of Black Rock Speedway has made the decisions with confidence and faith. "This is the perfect sized track for sprint car racing," Hough said. "And this is the direction we feel the track needs to go in." Kelly added, "In short, we're not trying to make waves in the racing community. We are in the entertainment business and we need to have something fresh." Black Rock Speedway is a four-tenths mile blue clay oval located on Route 14A, just south of the village of Dundee in Yates County, NY. Monday, November 17, 2003
SAXTON RELEASES SCHEDULE OF SPONSORSHIP MARKETING SEMINARS
LANGHORNE, PA November 12, 2003 . . . . A fresh new approach on sponsorship marketing will be part of a series of SPONSORSHIP MARKETING SEMINARS announced recently by Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. Saxton will host his two to three hour sponsorship marketing seminars at the following locations: January 10th, Anchorage, Alaska January 16-17, Motorsports 2004 presented by Sunoco at the Fort Washington, PA Expo Center February 6-7, Sports Car Club of America Convention, Topeka, Kansas February 13, Daytona Beach, Florida March 13, Ontario, Canada Additional seminar dates are expected to be announced in the near future. "We are excited to have the opportunity to present our seminar, with a fresh new approach to sponsorship, at some new locations. Hopefully we will be giving some racers, promoters and organization officials some tips that will help them attract serious sponsorship. Racers have to remember that sponsorship is a 12 month a year program and when racers do not take that into consideration their sponsorship efforts fail." said Saxton. "Sponsorship seminars can be a great fund raising opportunity. We can show those who have interest just how presenting a sponsorship seminar can put money in your pocket by helping others learn more about sponsorship marketing. It is really quite easy…..and very rewarding." In January, 2004 Saxton's popular monthly newsletter, Motorsports Sponsorship Marketing News, will celebrate its 20th anniversary. The newsletter has helped many in motorsports be successful with their sponsorship efforts. Subscribers learn what is new in sponsorship and gain some great advice from experts in the industry. There are many tips, helps, contacts and more included each month along with the latest sponsorship news. Normally the monthly newsletter sells for $89.95 per year but to celebrate the 20th anniversary a one year subscription, plus three back issues, is available for just $59.95. Saxton's website, WWW.SAXTONSPONSORMARKET.COM, is a popular site for those seeking to learn more about sponsorship marketing. The site includes a number of information packed columns written by Saxton. There are a number of helps offered on the site. And visitors to the site can sign on to receive a free copy of the newsletter and obtain additional information on the services and materials provided by Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. For information on seminars, fund raising, subscriptions and more, telephone Ernie Saxton at 215.752.7797 or email him at Esaxton144@aol.com. Ernie Saxton Communications, Inc. offers sponsorship representation services on a retainer and commission basis on a limited basis. Offices are located at 1448 Hollywood Avenue, Langhorne, PA 19047-7417.
Correction...Steve Davis wrote the report on the AMRA Banquet. Cyndi took the pictures...shows how little I pay attention.
Also....2003 Wizard chassis for sale- will sell just chassis($1,000.00) ,or rolling. Run one year, 5th in RWT points, 7th in AMRA international points, numerous wins. E-mail me for contact info Sunday, November 16, 2003
Central Pennsylvania Speedway Open House Goes Off With a Roar
Bill Walker 11/16/03 With temperatures in the mid forties a crowd of nearly five hundred race fans and drivers alike took what would be their first of many looks at the newly reconfigured Central Pennsylvania Speedway. The festivities kicked off at 1:00 PM, with rules being handed out for all divisions and discussions of racings past and future at CPS. Everyone was welcome to walk the track and grounds and take in all that the Central Pennsylvania Speedway has to offer. Bud Garvey and Pete Hinman were among several that showcased racings past by presenting their beautifully restored racers. Garvey took the opportunity to show off his newest find, the number 41 sprinter driven by Don Kimberling, presented in the same condition that it left the track after running its last race in 1975. Bud commented that the next time we see the car it will have undergone a 100% restoration. Current drivers lending their rides to the festivities included Lou & Josh Jacoby, Jimmy Seager, George Sankey, Mark Frankhouser, Emory Reinhart Jr., Dick Swarmer, Tom Worrick and Bob Garvey. In all, everyone had a good time and are anxiously awaiting the opening day of the 2004 racing season when all eyes will be locked on the gem that is the Central Pennsylvania Speedway.
For those who want tapes of the WVMS AMRA Nationals, they can be purchased either by:
A.) Calling Charter Media @ (304) 422-6088, or B.) Mailing your request with a check or m.o. to Charter Media 300 Star Avenue - Suite 321 Parkersburg, WV. 26101 Tapes are $19.95 + $5.00 shipping & handling, or if the customer prefers to avoid shipping costs the tape can be picked up at their office. |
